When recent floods threatened to force Knox residents out of their homes, school staff and local community members came together to make sure everyone had a safe place to stay. Knox Community Schools Superintendent Dr. William Reichhart issued a letter last week, publicly thanking those who helped with the schools’ flood response.
He says around 4:30 p.m. on Saturday, February 24, the Red Cross asked to use the school corporation’s facilities for an emergency shelter, for anywhere from 500 to 1,000 people. Reichhart says it took the school corporation less than two hours to mobilize and get ready to meet the need.
He says 40 staff members came to help the Red Cross unload supplies, set up more than 200 cots, and get food tables ready, along with several other activities. Some of them took food to sandbaggers and firefighters. Some spent the night at the school to help with the flood response.
Reichhart says that only a few families ended up needing the Red Cross site, but the school corporation was prepared for the worst. He thanked the students, maintenance staff, bus drivers, food service staff, teachers, and others for volunteering their time. He also thanked the community members who came to the Red Cross site to offer any help they could.
